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Multiple births -

Dawn Richards is the mother of naturally conceived triplets, Emily Carlisle had twins following IVF. They join Olivia O'Leary in the Between Ourselves studio to discuss the joy and the sheer hard work of raising multiples.

Emily's delight at discovering she was having twins was followed by a series of unforeseen events which entirely changed her experience of motherhood.

Dawn describes the confusing moment she and her husband discovered they were having triplets. Following a difficult pregnancy and an emergency birth, three tiny babies were brought home. Through a haze of sleepless exhaustion Dawn changed 15 nappies, and prepared 15 bottles of milk a day.

When the first few months are over, the toddler years bring fresh challenges for parents of multiples:

If you're brave enough to risk a trip to the park, who do you decide to chase when one child runs to the duck-pond and the other towards the road?

And the most basic of needs - how does a mother of multiples go to the loo? According to Emily, with at least one small child sitting on your lap. Or have a shower? With three small faces pressed up against the glass.

And would Emily or Dawn have more children? Join them on this week's edition of Between Ourselves to find out.

producer: Karen Gregor.

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